Candia waiting on ash pile testing results from state

By BENJAMIN C. KLEINUnion Leader Correspondent

CANDIA — An official from the state Department of Environmental Services said he has informed members of Candia’s Board of Selectmen that at least eight to 10 more tests are needed to properly define the chemical composition of the ash pile at the town’s old incinerator site.

The Board of Selectmen voted Monday night to approve further testing of the estimated 4,000-ton ash pit at a cost of roughly $16,000. Doug Kemp of the DES said he informed board members Amanda Soares and Carleton Robie through email and phone conversations that the testing was needed after receiving a letter from the town’s engineering firm, Stantec Consulting Services, on behalf of the town, asking to be exempt from removing the ash.

“The town has had three samples taken, but that is not enough to fully identify the nature of the ash chemically, we need to bulk up the number of samples,” Kemp said.

Kemp said that once eight to 10 further tests were taken and pending the results, the DES will review the results and make a decision on what should happen next. Board Chairman Frederick Kelley said that the results from the tests will need to be examined before the board makes any final decisions on the ash. The previous three tests performed at the ash pit have indicated that the ash is solid waste, and not the more expensive and dangerous hazardous waste.

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